Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) is likely to complete its awareness programme on energy conservation among one lakh school students here by the end of this month.
The corporation launched “Powerful Coimbatore” in July this year for school students. The aim is to create awareness among the students so that they take home the message of energy conservation.
About one lakh students are targeted and so far, programmes have been conducted in several schools in the city, covering 35,000 students in classes VI to XII.
Superintending Engineer of TANGEDCO Coimbatore Metro A.D. Thirumoorthy told The Hindu on Tuesday the electricity board officials visit schools and speak to students for about 20 minutes after the morning assembly. In some schools presentations are made on energy conservation methods.
The officials explain the need to go in for solar water heaters, use of compact fluorescent lamps, switching off television sets and ways to operate electrical gadgets at homes. They also clarify doubts and answer questions from the students.
The best questions get prizes too. The students, especially those studying in classes VI and VII are very interactive, he says.
Apart from private schools, so far, seven corporation schools have also been covered under this programme.
“We want to cover all the schools in the city under this programme. We have covered most of the major schools in the city during the last one month,” Mr. Thirumoorthy says.
The students are given a booklet on energy conservation and a feedback form. They should fill it up with the help of their parents and return the forms at the schools in a week or 10 days.
The feedback is analysed and a data bank created so that energy use at homes can be studied. If the parents cooperate, it will not be difficult to achieve 10 per cent energy conservation, he says.
The response from parents has been encouraging so far. A proof of increasing awareness among the public on energy conservation is a two-hour workshop conducted for 30 participants last week at the request of a residents' welfare association in the city, he says.
